Edwin van der Sar has high hopes for David de Gea

Retired Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar believes new signing David de Gea can handle the pressure of being the No.1 goalkeeper at one of the biggest clubs in the world.


De Gea joins the Red Devils on a five-year deal at the tender age of 20 – half the age of his predecessor.

De Gea: Will replace the great VDS

But the former Dutch international shot-stopper is adamant that the young Spaniard will be able to cope with the high expectations surrounding him.


“They scouted all over Europe and found a couple of targets and they chose De Gea," he told ESPN Star.


"Hopefully he's going to have a great career at Manchester United."


De Gea recently won the Under-21 European Championships with Spain, a year after lifting the Europa League with Atletico Madrid, and Van der Sar feels this shows the youngster can handle being under the spotlight.


"He's very talented. He's already won a trophy with Atletico Madrid and the Spain Under-21 team so the prospect [to do well] is there," Van der Sar continued.


"Everybody has to be his own person [but] I've met him. I've spoken to him and it looks to me that he can handle it."

van der Saar

The signing of De Gea took Sir Alex Ferguson's summer spending beyond the £50 million mark after the arrivals of Phil Jones and Ashley Young, and Van der Sar is confident that the new trio will have no problems adapting to life at Old Trafford.


"I left and David is coming in. I think everybody else will adjust to a new player at the club,” Van der Sar told Channel News Asia.


"Ashley Young is coming and Jones from Blackburn is coming in. With the help of the defenders, players and the coaching staff and goalkeeper coach, I think everything should be fine at the start of the season."